Forthcoming book highlights significant work in cervical cancer prevention
Researchers from Te Tātai Hauora o Hine—The National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa have contributed to part of the first comprehensive publication on cancer in Indigenous and Tribal peoples.
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Cancer will be published by Springer in early June. The book brings together current global data about Indigenous and Tribal peoples’ experiences with cancer for the first time.
It offers Indigenous knowledge and strengths-based approaches to successful health interventions and research projects and is led by Indigenous researchers with international reputations in health and cancer research.
Professor Bev Lawton, Anna Adcock, Dr Kendall Stevenson, Dr Tania Slater, and Francesca Storey from Te Tātai Hauora o Hine are the authors of a chapter in the book that looks at cervical screening by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing— an area of significant work for the centre.
The chapter highlights the centre’s research and lobbying over several years to inform the newly launched HPV screening programme in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Professor Bev Lawton says that it has been a privilege to work with communities and iwi over that time, ensuring the National Cervical Screening Programme meets whānau needs.
“We use research as activism—our goal is to enable policy changes that will have positive impact on health not just for Māori but for all Indigenous peoples. I’m proud that the Centre team and our work are contributing to a global effort to eliminate cervical cancer”.
Aotearoa is the first high-income country to switch straight to HPV self-testing as the primary screening method for the cervical cancer prevention programme.
Professor Bev Lawton was recognised for her work in this space in 2023, receiving the Health Research Council’s Beaven Medal for excellence in translational health research.
The Centre’s chapter in Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Cancer also covers the International Indigenous HPV alliance, a collaboration of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders from around the world calling for equity to be central to all cervical cancer elimination strategies.
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Cancer is edited by Professor Gail Garvey (University of Queensland), with Lea Bill (Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre), Professor Linda Burhansstipanov (Native American Cancer Initiatives Inc.), Dr Nina Scott (National Māori Cancer Leadership Group) and Associate Professor Lisa Whop (Australian National University).
The book will be pre-launched at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference on 18 March 2024 at which some authors from Te Tātai Hauora o Hine will be present, taking part in its promotion.
The release of the book in June 2024 follows global HPV Awareness Day (4 March 2024). The theme of the day this year is #onelessworry—a theme that highlights that it is possible to eliminate HPV with tools currently available (including the HPV test), thereby creating one less worry for the world.